McCarthy announces local military academy nominations

Saturday

Dec 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Congressman Kevin McCarthy announced nominations to the United States Service Academies.

Congressman Kevin McCarthy announced nominations to the United States Service Academies. Nominees were selected in a competitive process in which a number of highly qualified 23rd Congressional District high school students applied for consideration. Two Ridgecrest students were among the nominees.Garrett Silong, 17, of Ridgecrest, California was selected as the principle nominee for the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. He attends Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest and is varsity swim captain and secretary of the Burroughs High chapter of the California Scholarship Federation. Silong’s expected major is biology. In addition to receiving a principal nomination to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Garrett also received a competing alternate nomination to the United States Naval Academy.Nicholas Higdon, St. Francis School (home school) of Ridgecrest, received a competing alternate nomination to the Air Force Academy from McCarthy. McCarthy designated one principal nominee for each academy that will fill one of five slots afforded to him as a member of congress at each academy. He also nominated a slate of competing alternate nominations for each academy that will be ranked according to their competitiveness by the academy admission board and selected for admission at the academy’s discretion. Some applicants received a nomination to more than one academy according to the rank preference listed on their application. The academies traditionally notify the alternates by April whether or not they will be offered an appointment. “I am proud to nominate students from my district who display the core values of honor and courage in their commitment to serve our country,” McCarthy said. “I congratulate each of them in their pursuit of becoming future leaders in our Armed Services.”Each candidate was interviewed by McCarthy’s Academy Interview Committee and the selections were submitted to the congressman. The 2013 Academy Committee Members are: Cam Martin of Tehachapi, external affairs, NASA and parent to two Naval Academy graduates; Col. Lars Hoffman, commandant, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, and 1988 Air Force Academy Graduate; Kern County Superior Court Judge Susan Gill of Bakersfield; and Dr. John Snavely, superintendent, Porterville Unified School District who was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force after four years of service.Other nominees included and alternates: Michael “Mickey” Cushine of Bakersfield, Kyle Mathes-Orr of Tehachapi, Sarah Manges of Bakersfield, Andrew “Drew” Francis of Bakersfield, Clayton Wikoff of Taft, Tyler Myers of Edwards, Nicholas Graves, Mikael Mansini and Bryce Kastner of Lancaster.